Spring and frame supporter for motor-vehicles.



u SPRING AND FRAME SUPPORTER FO'R MOTOR VEHICLES.`

vAFPLICPJIONl RLLED NGV. 16.1916

l l Patented Jan. 29, w18.

INVENTOR ATToRNEY JOSEPH DOTTL, OF MADISON, WISCQNSN. ASSGrNOR T THE DOTTL MANUFACTURING I COMPANY, OF MADISON, YISCNSIN, A. CGRPORATION OF WISCNSIN.

Application filed November 16, 1918. Serial No,

To all fle/mnt t may cof/tecra:

Be it known that l, `Josnrii Dorit, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and lState ofllllis consin, have invented new and useful l1nprovements in Springs and Frame-SuppOrt ers for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to spring and frame supporters for motor vehicles the object in view being to provide in connection with the body supporting bolsterA and spring or springs of a motor vehiclepineans whereby, under an excessive load, the weight of the V body and the load imposed thereon will be transferred frein one portion of a body snpf porting s} ning to another portion thereof thereby preventing the overloading of the vehicle springs which may ultimately result in the bending and breakage thereof, the de vice thus adapting the vehicle toboth lightv and heavy leads and affording the necessary resilient support for dilferent loads.

By means of the invention hereinafter described, the'load on the vehicle may be doubled or materially increased without causing the body supporting spring or springs to bear against or come in contact with the axle or axle housing, the weakest point or points of the spring or springs is protected and the saine relieved, and excessive swaying or swinging motion of the body under excessive loads is eliminated and incidentally the tendency to shear off the center bolt, the clevice serving to sustainrthe body and its load in an approximately l'iorizontal position and also preventing the sudden upward tilting of the-body at one end. Incidentally the device relieves the wear and tear on `the tires and also on the car as a whole by preventing the lateral swinging of the body and load when turning corners or travel ing over rough road surfaces.

A further object in view is to provide a device. of the character referred to which may be readily applied to vehicles new in` use without extra fittings.

With t-he above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and'arrangement of parts, l

herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a rear elevation of "a sulicient portion of a motor vehicle .to'illnstrate the present invent-ion in its applied relation thereto. Fig.

`Speelfication of Letters Patent.l

thus far described are of the Patented dan.. 23, 1918..

2 is an enlarged detail perspectivev View of one Vof the supporters. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken longitudinally of the body bolster, showing a Vsupporter of modified construction. Fig. el is a vertical longitudinal section thro-ugh the supporter shown in 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. llooking downwardly. Fig. 6 is a broken elevationof another form of supporter. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectionshowing the construction of the spring clip.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates the axle housing of a motor vehicle, 2 op-` positely located wheels connected with the axle contained in the housing l, 3 one of the body supporting springs connected by the usual swinging links or shackles t to the expanded end portions 5 of thehousing 1, and 6, one of the holsters which is mounted upon the spring 3 and shownV as connected thereto by the usual clips 7 and center bolt 8. rlhe bolster 6 comprises the usual flanges 9 extending along the opposite longitudinal edges of the body of the bolster and in spaced relation to each other, said flanges 9 extending downwardly from the bolster body as shown in Fig. 3. All of the parts usual well known construction and relative arrangexment.

In carrying ont the present invention, l employat each end of the bolster 6 a supporter designated generally at A. The supi porter, shown in Fig. 2, comprises a substantially horizontal upper portion 10 and a substantially vertical portion 11 formed in-` tegrally therewith and extending dowir wardly from the outer end thereof as shown in Fig. 1, the portions 10 and 11 being braced in relation to each other by an internal corner reinforcing web 12. The portion 10 of the supporter is of suitable width to lit between the flanges 9 of the bolster 6 so as to contact with the inner faces of said flanges, thereby preventing the supporter from turning laterally, thesupporter being xedly secured to the bolster by means of a fastener 13 which is inserted through a hole 14: in the supporter and also through a hole in the body of the bolster as indicated in Fig. 1. The bottom edge of the vertical portion 11 of thesupporter is preferably edged or tapered as indicated at 15 so as to engage the inner side of the bolt 16 associated with the lbY iii

usual clip 17 which binds the leaves of the springs 3 togetherat the point shown in Fig. 1 Y.

It willnow be apparent that when an excessive load is brought to bear on the bolster (i, the lower edges-15 of the supporters il will Y bear against the top of the spring 3 at points Vjust inside of the bolt 16 and the weight will thus be transferred from the central portion of the spring 3 to points adjacent to the bolts 16,'a comparatively short distance from the pointsv where said spring 3 is connected to the swinging links or shackles 4. rEhe-vertical portions 11 of the lsupporters kthus co-act with the bolts 1G to prevent lateral tilting'of the body ofthe vehicle and abnormal distortion of the body supporting spring,

In lieu of the supporter shown iii Fig. 2,

vthe supporter illustrated' in Figs. and 4e Vmay be emplr'iyed.` .1n this instance, .the supporterAL comprises an upper portion or arm 18 which constitutes an extension of the bolster, the saine asthesupporter shown in y Figs. 1 and 2, and is secured to the bolster appear. 2% designates a post which has the saine function as the arin 11 of the supporter shownin Fig. 2, the lower end thereof being pointed as indicated at to engage the .adjacent bolt 16 above referred to, The post 24 is forined'witli a central longitudinal bore 1 26 openat its upper end, and a coiled springr Yso Q7 is placed within the borey and extends upwardly beyond the post 24e. the upper extremity thereof bearing against the upper wallfof the bore or recess QS inthe enlargenient 19 as shown in Figl. Adjacent to its upper end, the post has outwardly projecting lugs 29 located at diametrically oppositepoints and adapted to be inserted upwardly through the slots ornotches 22 Vabove described, after which a quarter turn is givento the post 24k until the lugs 29 are received .in the-depressions 28, the post 2l being thus locked in place and, prevented from escaping. Y Y

The lower extremity of the post 24, when the supporter is fastened'to the bolster 6. occupies the same position and relation as thebottoinedgeof the portion 11 of the supi porter rstfdeseribed and therefore the post VQ4: is notbrought into action until a sulficiently heavyfload hasbeen imposed on the bolster 6. After this the springs QT act as a cushioning means between the bolster and the bodv su iioi'tiiio s iriiie'. The su i )ortein a l a C shown iii liig. (3 is olA the saine general type previously described but in lieu of the verticallv movable )ost 2l and the s n'ine 2i' w. a shown in big. l, a resilient post i3() is ein ployed, the saine being preferably con'iposed of rubber or other ilexiblc or elastic material.y

the upper end portion of the post 230 being enlarged to forni an aniinlar shoulder 3l which engages an inwardly extending annular' flange 32 at the bottoni of the enlarged portion 33 of the arin 31, which corresponds with the arm 18 of Fig. el.

ln each instance., above described, the lsupporter forms in effect an end extension ol' the body supporting bolster G so that when an unusually heavy load is imposed upon the vehicle, the load will be transferred from the central portion of the body supporting spring to points adjacent. to the end portions thereof and iiiuch closer to the vehicle wheels. This not only protects the body supportiirrspring and prevents injury thereto but lateral swaying of the vehicle body and its load is to a very great extent eliminated and the body is cai'ried on a comparatively level poise thereby relieving excessive wear and tear on the wheel base, frame.y wheels, tires and axles of the vehicle,

I claim:-

1. A. vehicle frame, a bolster cxtendini transversely thereof and having parallel longitudinal flanges extending dmvnwardly therefrom. and an arched body supporting` main spring centrally secured to the bolster and terminally connected with thc axle hour ing` in combination with auxiliary body supporting units interposed between the bolster ends and said spring, each unit comprising a downwardly extending ineinber located beyond the adjacent end of the bolster and above and normally out of contact with the body supporting springbut adapted to rest upon said spring when an abnormal load is imposed on the bolster.

2. A vehicle frame` a bolster extending transversely thereof and having parallel longitudinal flanges extending downwardly therefrom, and an arched body supporting inain spring centrally secured to the bolster and terminally connected with the axle housing, in combination with auxiliary body supporting units interposed between-the bolster ends and said spring. each unit comprising.,r a downwardly extendingl member located beyond the adjacent end of the bolster and above and normally out of contact with the body supporting spring but adapted to rest upon said spring when an abnornial load is imposed on the bolster'` said downwardly extending` member being yieldable in a substaiitiallv vertical direction.

3. A vehicle frame, a bolster extending transversely thereof and having parallel .longitudinal flanges extending downwardly llll loo

lllf) newness therefri'in'i, an arched body supporting main spring centrally secured to the bolster and terminally connected Vwith the axle housing, in combination with auxiliary body supporting units interposed between the bolster ends and said spring, each unit comprising a downwardly extending` member located beyond the adjacent end of the bolster and above and normally out of contact with the body supporting spring but adapted to rest upon said spring when an `abnornnil load imposed on the bolster, said downwardly extending men'iber being yieldable in. a. substantially vertical direction,`and embodying telescopically related portions and an expansion spring contained within the last named portions.

4i.. A vehicle frame, a bolster extending transversely thereof and having` parallel longitudinal flanges extending downwardly` therefrom, an arched body supporting main sl'nfine` centrally secured to the bolster and terminally connected with the axle housing, in combination with auxiliary body support.- ing u nits interposed between the bolster ends and said spring, each unit comprising a downwardly extending member located beyond the adjacent end of the bolster and above and normally out of contact with the body supporting spring but adapted to rest upon said spring when anabnorrnal load is imposed on the bolster, said downwardly ex tending member being yi'eldable in a substantially vertical direction and embodying telescopically related portions having adetaehablev and interlocking engagement with each other, and an expansion spring con tained within the'last named portions;

5. An axle housing, a bolster extendingV longitudinally thereof, an arched body-Supl porting main spring centrally secured to the bolster and terminally connected to the axle housing at each end, bothendportions of the spring lying in the same vertical plane longitudinally of the axle housing, in combination with auxiliary body supporting units interposed `between'the end portions of the bolster and the end portions of the spring which are connected to the axle housing on the saine side of the transverse central plane of the axle housing, said bolster and spring constituting two members, said units being attached to one only of said members and being so constructed and arranged that the units are held in proper alinement relatively to the other of said members regardless of whether theycontactwith said other member or not.

G'. An axle housing, a bolster extending longitudinally thereof, an arched body-sup@ porting main spring centrally secured to the bolster and terminally'connected to the axle housing at each end, both end portions of the spring lying in the saine verticall plane longitudinally of the axle housing, in combination with auxiliary body supporting units interposed between the end portions of the bolster and the end portions of the spring which are connected to the axle housing on the same side of the transverse central plane of the axle housing, said units being attached to thebolster only and including means so constructed andarranged 'that the units are held in proper alinement relatively to the spring regardless of whether they contact with said spring or not.

7. An axle housing, a bolster extending .longitudinally thereof, an arched body-supporting main spring centrally secured to the holster' and terminally connected to the axle housing, in combination with auxiliarybody supporting units interposed between the end portions of the bolster and the correspond,-

ing endportions of the spring,said bolster and spring constituting`r two members and interposed between the end portions of the y bolster and the corresponding vend portions ofthe spring, said bolsterand spring con-` stituting two members and `saidunits being rigidly attached at one end to one of said members, said units each including a resilient member through which loads niayllie transn'iitted to the main spring, said units being so constructed and arranged that the other ends thereof are maintained Vin proper alinement with the other of said members regardless vof whether they engage said member or not.

9. An axle housing, a bolster extending longitudinally thereof, an arched body-sup porting main spring centrally secured to the bolster and tern'iinally connected toV the axle housing at. each end, both end portions of the spring lying in the same vertical plane transversely of the vehicle, in combination with auxiliary body supporting units interposed between the end portions of the bolster and the corresponding end portions ofthe spring, said units 'being` .rigidly attached to said bolster only and each including a resilient member through which loads on the bolster may be transmitted to the main spring, said units being so constructed and arranged that their other ends are maintained in proper alineu'ientV with the main spring regardless of whether they engage said spring or not.

iet

` i 101. An axle housing -a bolster extending P7 :n longitudinally thereot, an arched body-supporting mam spring centrally secured to the bolster and terminally connected to the axle housing,both end portions ot' the spring lying in the same vertical plane longitudi; nally of the axle housing, in combination with auxiliary body supporting units interposed between the end portions or" the bolster and the corresponding end portions of the spring, said bolster andspring constituting two members and said units being l' rigidly attached atV one end'to one only ot I longitudinallyY thereof, yan arched body-sup porting main 4spring centrally secured to the bolster and terminally connected to the axlehousing, and means torvtransmitting loads from the end portionsot the bolster to the corresponding endyportions ot the Y spring,isaid means being out of contact with 301 comprising housings including `telescopic said spring under light loads, said means sections, the sections including means where- Y by the movement et one longitudinally in respect Vto the other is limited, and springs inclosed said housings and tending to holdV the movable sections at the limitV ot their movement in one direction.

12. In combination, a pair ot wheels, a bolster extending longitudinally ot' and substantially above the common axis of said wheels, said means including a main spring centrally secured to the bol sterand housings including a pair ot' telescopic sections, means Atorrigidly connecting one ot the sections to the corresponding end of the bolster so that the section is immovable in respect to said bolster, said sections including means whereby the movement of the otherrsection in respect to the lirst named section islmnted both fin extent and direction, and springs inclosed by said housings, said springs tending to hold the movable sections atthe limit of their movementV in one direction.

' y 13. In combination, a pair of wheels, a f

bolster extending longitudinally ot' and sub- V(amies of this patent may be obtained for ,incense stantially above the common axis ot said wheels, means for transmitting loads il'rom said bolster to said wheels, said means including a main spring centrally secured to the bolster, the entire load being transmitted from the bolster to the central portion o'l the main spring when the load is small, said bolster and main spring constituting two members and means whereby a portion ol the load is transmitted from the bolster to the main spring at points considerably nearer the ends of the latter when the load is increased, said last named means being out of Contact with one ot the members when the load is a minimum.

1i. In combination, a pair ot wheels, a bolster extending longitudinally ot and substantially above the common axis ot said wheels, and means 'tor transmitting loads from said bolster 'to said wheels, ,said means including a main leaf spring centrally secured to the bolster and clips whereby the ends of the leaves ot the spring are held in alinement with each other, the entire load being transn'iitted from the bolster to the central portion of the main spring when the load is small, said bolster and main spring constituting two members and means, supported solely by one of said members and associated with the clips whereby a portion of the load is transmitted from the bolster to the main spring at points considerably nearer the ends of the latter when the load is iucreased, said last named means being out Aof contact with one ot the members when the load is a minimum.

15. In combination, a pair ot wheels, a bolster extending longitudinally ot and substantially above the connnon axis ot said wheels, means for tansmitting loads trom said bolster to said wheels, said means including a main spring centrally secured to the bolster and having its end portions dis posed in the same vertical plane parallel to the axis oit the wheels` and auxiliary body supporting units rigidly connected to fue bolster, said units being supported solely by the bolster and depending from the end portions thereof and being so constructed and arranged that their lower ends are maintained in substantially the same alinement relatively to the bolster at all times.

In testimony whereotl I aliix my signature JOSEPH DOTTL.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

tltl 

